FLL Boat Parade - help with hotel

[Artemis]

Hi, everybody,

 

Hope you experienced cruisers--especially our FLL-area residents who are always so generous with info and tips--can help. I am in full information overload trying to book our pre-cruise FLL hotel! Based on our travel preferences and what I've read, I'd normally go Priceline or Amerisuites.

 

However, the annual Fort Lauderdale Winterfest Boat Parade is Saturday night, Dec. 17th, which is our pre-cruise night. This sounds like a "Don't Miss" event. Naturally, it has impacted hotel room pricing...a room with a view of the intercoastal costs, e.g., from 174 at Bahia Mar to 459 at Marriott Marina. (We need 2 rooms...adds up.) So, we will skip trying to get a room with a view and focus on either a hotel that offers some indoor or outdoor common area with good views of the canal or a restaurant, park or other space that offers primo viewing. We do not want to book grandstand seating at Birch State Park.

 

Should we get a hotel somewhat removed from all of this, and thus at more "normal" pricing, and then drive over to a viewing spot? Will parking and driving around be a zoo? I understand bridge openings is an issue once the parade is underway.

 

All things being equal, I am thinking we'd most enjoy a beachfront hotel with an easy arrangement for walking across to the canal for parade viewing? For example, Sheraton Yankee Clipper has availability at $99 that night. That's not bad from what I'm finding. I probably wouldn't stay there otherwise...but if someone said, yes, that's a good choice because you can easily walk _______ to see the boat parade from the Clipper, then I'd jump on it.

 

Help!

 

Thanks for any suggestions y'all may offer. Happy fall & winter cruising,

[kalamari]

If it were me, I'd either swallow the money and get a hotel right in town because driving and getting a subsequent viewing spot will be near impossible. If you do that, I'd look for hotels west of the city (like Weston, Sunrise, etc) or I'd go north of Fort Lauderdale (Deerfield Beach, Boca Raton). If you REALLY want to be cheap, there is a motel 6 in Dania Beach just shy south of Fort Lauderdale and a quick cab ride to the and from the port. Yes, it's a motel 6 but my family and I used to have a boat docked at the marina around the corner and sometimes we rented a room there if it rained and we couldn't go on the water. It's not the Marriott, but its clean, safe, and cheap.

 

But you know what? Your on VACATION. Swallow the money and get something convenient. Trust me...finding a spot to even see the parade can be a trip in itself...some of the restaraunts (Roadhouse grill on Commercial for example) have these dinner packages to eat, park, and see the parade and if you do the cheap thing, then that might be a decent thing to do too,but then I'd still take a cab in. Hope this helps....Menina

 

 

 

Hi, everybody,

 

Hope you experienced cruisers--especially our FLL-area residents who are always so generous with info and tips--can help. I am in full information overload trying to book our pre-cruise FLL hotel! Based on our travel preferences and what I've read, I'd normally go Priceline or Amerisuites.

 

However, the annual Fort Lauderdale Winterfest Boat Parade is Saturday night, Dec. 17th, which is our pre-cruise night. This sounds like a "Don't Miss" event. Naturally, it has impacted hotel room pricing...a room with a view of the intercoastal costs, e.g., from 174 at Bahia Mar to 459 at Marriott Marina. (We need 2 rooms...adds up.) So, we will skip trying to get a room with a view and focus on either a hotel that offers some indoor or outdoor common area with good views of the canal or a restaurant, park or other space that offers primo viewing. We do not want to book grandstand seating at Birch State Park.

 

Should we get a hotel somewhat removed from all of this, and thus at more "normal" pricing, and then drive over to a viewing spot? Will parking and driving around be a zoo? I understand bridge openings is an issue once the parade is underway.

 

All things being equal, I am thinking we'd most enjoy a beachfront hotel with an easy arrangement for walking across to the canal for parade viewing? For example, Sheraton Yankee Clipper has availability at $99 that night. That's not bad from what I'm finding. I probably wouldn't stay there otherwise...but if someone said, yes, that's a good choice because you can easily walk _______ to see the boat parade from the Clipper, then I'd jump on it.

 

Help!

 

Thanks for any suggestions y'all may offer. Happy fall & winter cruising,

[TrentS]

Well Artemis, it's a bit of a walk to get to a CLOSE viewing spot from Sheraton Yankee Clipper, but it's doable. If you want something on the beach yet easy to see the boat parade I'd probably go with Bahia Mar though if you didn't want to spend the money on a higher quality hotel.

 

You could also go with any one of the SE 17th Street hotels and walk to the Marina Marriott area to watch the parade.

 

Traffic is a nightmare in the area during, as well as before and after the parade, I wouldn't recommend staying as far out as the above poster suggested. The savings are not worth the hassle IMO. I would want to stay somewhere I could walk to a viewing area from.

 

Along the Intracoastal...

 

Bahia Mar... http://www.bahiamarhotel.com/

 

Hyatt Pier 66... http://pier66.hyatt.com/property/index.jhtml

 

Marina Marriott... http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/FLLFL

 

DoubleTree Guest Suites (farther north, Intracoastal at Sunrise Blvd.)... http://www.doubletreegalleria.com/

 

Or you could stay at any of the SE 17th Street hotels and walk over to the Intracoastal...

 

Renaissance... http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/FLLBR

 

Embassy Suites... http://www.embassysuites.com/en/es/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=FLLSOES

 

Holiday Inn Express... http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/ex/1/en/hd/fllcc

 

Extended Stay America... http://www.extendedstayamerica.com/hotels/fort-lauderdale-convention-center-marina.html

 

AmeriSuites... http://amerisuites.com/reservations/locationdetail.asp?facid=3929

AmeriSuites is cheaper on Valuetrips... http://www.valuetrips.com/AMS/FL/F17.htm

[Artemis]

Thanks, kalamari & Trent, for your time and thoughtful suggestions.

 

Two more questions, if I may...

 

Is anyone familiar with the restaurants and grounds at the Marriott Marina, i.e., if we stayed there (in a non-view room) or walked there, what are our choices for settling in to see the parade?

 

I am intrigued by the idea of reserving a restaurant parade package to be assured of a viewing location. I didn't turn up any "event packaging" info on any of the waterway restaurant websites I viewed. I guess I will start calling. Does anyone have info/tips?

 

Thanks,

[TrentS]

I've been in a few of the rooms at the Marina Marriott, but haven't eaten in the restaurants and I can't remember their layout... You might want to check and see if they'll allow you in there during that time though if you're not a guest. There are so few places to actually get a good view I'm wondering if the hotels will even allow non-guests on the property during that time. The only place I've ever watched it from was a private condo balcony and I'm not sure what the hotels do at that time. I think you've got the right idea in calling a few places, and if you don't want to stay at one of the hotels ON the Intracoastal, making a reservation at a restaurant along the route.

[MikeKool]

I was fortunate enough to see this boat parade a few years ago from my balcony at the Marina Marriott. I know security was tight then.....and I can only imagine it's worse now. I remember the hotel gave guests some sort of identification to allow then to go out back and watch the parade. As suggested I would call around and see what the rules are. Traffic was a nightmare and I would suggest getting to your destination the morning of the parade.

[Bequia]

We have a room at the Marriott Marina for the boat parade, we'll be checking in at 9am to avoid the chaos. Wherever you end up, get in early. ;)

[Artemis]

Thanks so much, everyone. This is the kind of "insider info" that is priceless.

 

Unfortunately, I jumped on cheap flights weeks ago, before I learned of the parade, so we will have to hope our taxi driver knows how to get us through the traffic. :D

[Bequia]

I am intrigued by the idea of reserving a restaurant parade package to be assured of a viewing location. I didn't turn up any "event packaging" info on any of the waterway restaurant websites I viewed. I guess I will start calling. Does anyone have info/tips?

 

Thanks,

 

Several dinner boat companies offer dinner and parade from their boats as well. Great vantage points. Check with Jungle Queen http://www.junglequeen.com/or Carrie B Harbor Tours http://www.carriebcruises.com/index3.htmlto see what they're offering.;)

[Bequia]

As of this moment, the Marriott Marina http://marriott.com/default.mi has rooms available for $139 a night (12/17-12/18). Thats a great price for one of the best places to watch the parade. http://www.winterfestparade.com/ ;)

[Artemis]

Yes, I had seen the $139 rate at the Marriott Marina (no view, of course) and am about ready to grab a couple of rooms, but Bequia, perhaps you would be kind enough to offer just a little more help on that score. The official judging will take place at that property, so I am wondering what public area will be left for viewing? My MIL who does not ambulate easily will be with us, so we can't just scramble for a spot on the grass...we will need to find a place for at least MIL to be seated. This definitely looks like one of the hottest spots in town to be that night, so I am envisioning the hotel and environs to be wall-to-wall revelers.

 

Thanks, y'all!